Adjustable stocking form



Aug. 14, 1934. c. CQCHRANE 1,969,727

ADJUSTABLE STOCKING FORM Filed .April 4, 1935 Patented Aug. 14, 1934 UNITED STATES ADJUSTABLE STOCKING FORM Clarence Cochrane, Melrose, Mass., assignor to Ruth B. Doty,Winchester, Mass.

Application April 4, 1933, Serial No."664,352

7 Claims.

My present invention relates to devices forum inthe stretching, forming and drying of stockings, particularly woolen stockings, the shrinking.

propensities of which during washing and drying are well known.

An important object of the present invention resides in the provision of a stocking form or stretcher that is simple in the extreme to manufacture and use, economical, and at the same 10 time durable, strong and rugged.

Another feature of my invention resides in the utilization of an openwork stretcher, so thatthe maximum circulation-of air around and through a stocking to be dried will be efiected, to dry said stocking in the shortest possible time.

Another object of the invention resides in the fact that my novel stretcher is capable of use in a wide range of sizes, by a simple manipulation to extend the foot portion to the desired size.

One pair of my novel devices, therefore, will suffice for the stretching and drying of stockings within a wide range of sizes, obviating and eliminating the necessity of having a plurality offorms of varying sizes for this purpose.

Another feature of my invention resides in th elimination of all objectionable projecting or protruding parts which might be likely to tear or injure a stocking positioned on said device.

Still another object of my invention residesin the provision-of a device of this nature with but a single moving part, and yet with all the advantages of a full range of adjustability by manipulation of this single element.

My novel stocking stretcher may be changed from one size to another in but an instants time, it requiring but a simple manual operation to effect this change.

Other objects and features of the invention reside in the particular construction and arrangement of my'novel device, and all of the above, together with. other objects and features of the invention, details of construction, combinations of parts, and advantages, will be hereinafter more fully pointed out, described and claimed.

Referring to the drawing, illustrating a preferred embodiment of the present invention,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a stocking stretcher embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of said stretcher or form;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional detail on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawing, for a particular description of the invention, its construction and operation, my novel device comprises a leg portion 1, preferably formed of wire. This wire is preferably of one piece, and is united at one or more points, by cross-arms 3, held in position by weld -ing or in any other desired manner- The free ends of the wire 1 terminate at the foot portion, at 5, and to said free ends is attached, as by clamping, or in any other desired manner, a plate 6 provided with a pair of tubular recesses 8 to receive the ends of a U-shaped extensible toe member 9. j

In the form of the invention illustrated herein, the plate 6 has its sides curved upwardly and inwardly, to form the tubular recesses 8 to constitute a seat, not only for the arms of the U-shaped toe member, but also for the free ends 5 of the wire or leg portion 1. However, it will be understood and appreciated that these tubular por- X5 tions 8 may be otherwise formed or constructed, as desired.

The ends 5 will-be firmly fixed in the tubes 8, while the arms of the toe member 9 are slidable therein. I T

The U-shaped toe piece 9 is formed of resilient metal, and each arm is provided, at its free end, with a catch or detent 10 adapted to engage apertures or recesses 11 formed in each tube 8. The tubes 8, as clearly illustrated, are of greater diameter than the diameter of the arms of the toe piece, to permit freedom of movement of said arms therein. The apertures 11 are spaced at predetermined intervals along the tubes 8, the spacing of said apertures corresponding to dif- ,ferent sizes of stockings to be dried or treated thereon.

The leg portion 1 being of openwork material, as above described, the device may be easily suspended from a hook, hanger or the like, while 05 the stockings are drying.

The operation of my novel device is simple, and will be readily understood, being briefly described and explained as follows:

It being desired to dry a stocking, said stocking is pulled over said device, the device hung up, and the stocking dried. If, however, the foot portion of the stocking is of a difierent size to that for which the foot portion is adjusted, the

operator simply grasps the arms of the toe portion or piece 9, squeezes them together until the detents or catches 10 are withdrawn from the recesses or apertures 11 with which'they are in engagement, slides said arms within the tubes 8 until said catches 10 are in register with aper- 1m tures corresponding to the size desired, and thereupon releases the grip on said arms of said toe piece. The natural or inherent resilience of said toe piece will cause the arms to move outwardly, thus positioning the catches or detents 10 in the desired apertures or recesses 11. There the catches will be held in adjusted position and against inadvertent movement until it is desired to again change the size of the form to coincide with the size of other stockings to be dried.

Ihis device may be made of any suitable or desirable material, or colored or lacquered in any desired finish, as will be readily understood. i

The simplicity, neatness, ruggedness, and other advantages of my stocking stretcher or form will be instantly apparent, and since I believe the same is novel, I have therefore claimed said device in this application.

While I have necessarily' described my presentv in'the form of claims as follows:

1. A stocking form, comprising a leg portion terminating in a plate constituting a part of the foot portion, said plate having a plurality of sizedetermining recesses therein, a resilient U-shaped toe portion slidably mounted with respect to said plate,-and means on said resilient toe portion cooperating with said recesses to hold saidtoe portion in adjusted position.

.2. ,A. stocking form,-cornprising a leg portion terminating in a plate constituting a part of the 3. A'stocking form, comprising a leg portion,

terminating in a plate constituting apart of, the foot portion, said plate having a plurality of tubular portions adjacent to the sides thereof,

said tubular portions having a plurality of sizedetermining recesses therein, a resilient U-shaped toe portion having armsseated in said tubular portions and slidable therein to vary the positionof said toe portion relative to said plate, and means "on said arms cooperating with said recesses to hold said toe portion in adjusted position. I

4. A stocking form, comprising a leg portion terminating in a plate constituting a part of the foot portion, said platehaving a plurality of tubular portions adjacent to the sides thereof, said tubular portions having a plurality of size-determining recesses therein on the outer sides thereof, a resilient U-shaped toe portion having arms seated in said tubular portions and slidable therein to vary the position of said toe portion relative to said plate, and catches on the outer sides of the ends of said arms cooperating with said recesses to hold said toe portion in adjusted position.

5. A stocking form comprising leg and foot portions, one of said portions having a pair of arms slidably engaged with the other portion whereby the portions are relatively adjustable to fit stockings of different sizes, the arms being inherently resilient and tending constantly to spring apart, and means cooperating with at least one of said arms due to the tendency of said arms to spring apart to positively hold the portions of the form in different relatively adjusted positions corresponding to different predetermined form sizes.

6. A stocking form comprising leg and foot portions, a' plate carried by one of said portions and having a pair of tubular elements, the other portion having a pair of arm elements slidably cooperating with said tubular elements whereby the portions are held in assembly with each other and are relatively adjustable to fit stockings of different sizes, said arm elements being inherently resilient and tending constantly to spring apart and being capable of lateral movement within said tubular elements, at least oneof said 119 elements having a series of formations spaced therealong corresponding to diiferent form sizes, and the cooperating element having means for selective cooperation with said formations under the influence of said arm elements to spring apart 5 to hold the respective portions of the form against sliding movement.

'7. A stocking form comprising leg and foot portions, a pair of. tubular elements carried by one of said portions, the other portion having a pair 20 of arm elements slidably cooperating with said tubularelements whereby the portions are held in assembly with each other and are relatively adjustable to fit stockings of diflerent sizes, at least one of said elements having formations spaced 5 apart corresponding to diflerent form sizes, and the cooperating element having means for selective cooperation with said formations to hold the portions against sliding movement.

CLARENCE COCHRANE. 

